Have pears that are still hard and you’re ready to eat them? Pears are one of those fruits that continue to ripen after they’re picked, and with a few simple tricks, you can speed the process along.
Choose firm pears
Start with pears that are firm but not rock hard. They’ll ripen more evenly than pears that are extremely underripe.
Place the pears in a paper bag
Put the pears into a brown paper bag and loosely close the top.
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As pears ripen, they naturally release ethylene gas. Keeping them in a paper bag helps trap that gas around the fruit and encourages the ripening process.
Add an apple or banana
Want to help them ripen a little faster? Add an apple or banana to the paper bag.
Apples and bananas also produce ethylene gas, which can help boost the natural ripening process.
Check them every day
Check your pears daily so you can catch them at just the right stage.
Gently press the area near the stem with your finger. A ripe pear should give slightly rather than feeling completely firm.
You may also notice that the pear develops a sweeter fragrance as it ripens. Depending on the variety, the color may change slightly as well.
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Don’t refrigerate them until they’re ripe
Keep your pears at room temperature while they’re ripening. Refrigeration can slow or stop the ripening process.
Once the pears are ripe, you can move them to the refrigerator to help them stay fresh longer.
What can you do with ripe pears?
Once your pears are ready, there are so many ways to use them. Enjoy them fresh, add them to fall baking, make pear muffins, bake them into desserts, or use them for canning and preserving.
If you have a basket of firm pears sitting on your counter, this simple paper-bag method is an easy way to get them ready to enjoy.
More Pear Ideas
- Best Pears for Baking: Top Varieties You Need to Try
- Best Pears for Canning: A Guide to the Juiciest and Most Flavorful Varieties
- Cinnamon Red Hot Pears for Canning
- Slow Cooker Pear Butter – Easy, Spiced, and Delicious
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